Today was supposed to be my special day—my birthday. I woke up feeling a buzz of excitement, my tail wagging uncontrollably. The morning sunlight streamed through the window, and I imagined all the wonderful things that might happen. Maybe there would be a new toy, a delicious meal, or even a walk to my favorite park. Birthdays were supposed to be magical, right?
But as the day went on, something felt… off. My humans were busy, rushing around the house with their usual routines. No one mentioned my birthday. No one even looked at me with that special smile they give when they have a surprise. I sat patiently by the kitchen door, hoping for a treat or a pat on the head, but the minutes turned into hours, and nothing came.
I tried to remind them. I brought my favorite ball to their feet and barked softly, hoping they’d remember. “Maybe if I show them how happy I am, they’ll realize it’s my birthday!” I thought. But they just brushed past me, saying, “Not now, buddy.”
As the afternoon sun began to set, I felt my heart sink. I curled up in my usual spot by the window, watching the world outside. A couple of kids ran by with balloons, laughing and playing. For a moment, I imagined they were celebrating with me, and my tail gave a hopeful wag. But reality set in quickly—it wasn’t for me.
My chest ached with a feeling I didn’t fully understand. I tried to be a good dog all year. I waited patiently when they were busy, stayed by their side when they were sad, and celebrated their happy moments with them. Why did today feel so lonely?
As night fell, I decided to make one last effort. I went to my human’s feet and rested my head on their lap, looking up at them with big, hopeful eyes. They scratched behind my ears absentmindedly but didn’t say anything about my birthday.
Feeling defeated, I padded back to my bed. The house grew quiet as everyone settled down for the night. I lay there, staring at the moonlight spilling onto the floor, a tear slipping from the corner of my eye.
But then, something unexpected happened. My youngest human, the little one with the sweetest giggle, tiptoed into the room. She knelt by my bed, her small hands cupping my face. “I didn’t forget, you know,” she whispered. She pulled a tiny cookie from her pocket and placed it in front of me. “Happy birthday, boy. I love you.”
My heart swelled with warmth. It wasn’t a grand celebration or a feast, but that one moment made everything better. I licked her face, my tail thumping against the floor. She giggled, and for the first time that day, I felt truly happy.
Maybe not everyone remembered, but she did. And that was enough for me.
